Fever

[plc115]

I was just informed by a Doctor that a temperature of 100.6 is not a fever in school age children. Children must have a fever over 101.

The parent called me and wants to know if she should send the student to school. The parent told me that the students temp has been up and down, (101 and 100.4) I advised her to keep the student home.

I have always believed that a normal temperature was 97.8 to 100. Has this scale changed?

[SassyTachyRN]

Ours is 100 as well. If mom told me the kid was fluctuating up to 101 I would tell her to keep them home as well.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

From the oncology point of view, we don't worry unless the kid is > 38 C (100.4 F) twice in 24 hours or >38.5 C (101.3 F) at all. When I worked per diem in the school, temp of 100 F meant that day students went home and boarders spent the day in the clinic.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

100 in my district as well. Though if they are running >99.5 and look terrible, I send 'em home. (Especially if they tell me a parent gave them acetaminophen before coming to school - that fever is likely higher!)

I don't care what the child's doctor tells me. That doctor isn't spending the day with that miserable child in school.

[SnowyJ, RN]

100 here too. Add to that the fact that most kids feel crummy when they hit 100 and it's going home time.

It is a written policy from our school MD.

[duckieRN]

Our districy policy is to be sent home with a fever greater than 100. I always site the policy to parents that say their doctor told them they can return to school. I always say, "according to the district, we must send your student home and keep him home untill they are fever free without the use of meds for 24 hours".. I also tell them that I will excuse the absence for them. They always like it when you do that!